Atheist Nexus2016-12-10T05:26:09ZSteph S.http://atheistnexus.org/profile/StephShttp://api.ning.com:80/files/wWCfc0zEZZw-kdFSybh9cW8bJQp4rTAnDdIxcIm-QrbNdh2b03Ig1uecr-V02xQQgQqVF6gNL3y*XgHdvh2dTAi5D1OhAbLP/WWavatar.jpg?width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1http://atheistnexus.org/forum/topic/listForContributor?groupUrl=sci-fi-fan-fiction-writers-and-readers&user=2212h7ukw07nd&feed=yes&xn_auth=noSciFi Readers websitetag:atheistnexus.org,2015-01-05:2182797:Topic:25287222015-01-05T02:44:42.947ZSteph S.http://atheistnexus.org/profile/StephS
<p><span class="font-size-4"><strong><a href="http://www.scifireaders.net/">http://www.scifireaders.net/</a></strong></span></p>
<p></p>
<p>a very good blog about Science Fiction</p>
<p></p>
<p>here is an except from the website: </p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>About</p>
<blockquote>b&amp;wWell, what is SciFi Readers? And who am I? I started this blog in April of 2011 because Science Fiction is my life. I’ve gone to school, worked a bunch of jobs and found that my one passion in life is…</blockquote>
<p><span class="font-size-4"><strong><a href="http://www.scifireaders.net/">http://www.scifireaders.net/</a></strong></span></p>
<p></p>
<p>a very good blog about Science Fiction</p>
<p></p>
<p>here is an except from the website: </p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>About</p>
<blockquote>b&amp;wWell, what is SciFi Readers? And who am I? I started this blog in April of 2011 because Science Fiction is my life. I’ve gone to school, worked a bunch of jobs and found that my one passion in life is the Science Fiction genre. I want to share everything from books, to TV, to anything SciFi culture. I’m based out of Seattle and I really enjoy the geek and tech scene up here, and I will be sharing all sorts of local SciFi flavor! Feel free to comment on anything you agree or disagree with, I love good debate. And please, share with your friends, it’s more fun when there are a bunch of us talking. Any comments or complaints please email them to: scifireaders@gmail.com. Enjoy!</blockquote> Firefly Fan Film - "The Verse"tag:atheistnexus.org,2014-11-07:2182797:Topic:25030492014-11-07T15:37:12.095ZSteph S.http://atheistnexus.org/profile/StephS
Serendipity strikes yet again. I was perusing my YouTube feed when something completely unexpected shows up, something called, "The Verse." Now, to those unschooled in Joss Whedon or a particular creation of 10+ years ago, poetry might come to mind. However, what we're really talking about here is The 'Verse - note the apostrophe - or to be clearer, the Universe of a clever and creative yet ill-fated television show known as <i>Firefly</i>.<br></br>
<br></br>
Despite its brief tenure on the tube,…
Serendipity strikes yet again. I was perusing my YouTube feed when something completely unexpected shows up, something called, "The Verse." Now, to those unschooled in Joss Whedon or a particular creation of 10+ years ago, poetry might come to mind. However, what we're really talking about here is The 'Verse - note the apostrophe - or to be clearer, the Universe of a clever and creative yet ill-fated television show known as <i>Firefly</i>.<br/>
<br/>
Despite its brief tenure on the tube, <i>Firefly</i> left an indelible impression on those of us who have an appreciation for science-fiction, especially when it trends to the quirky, unusual, and engaging. Joss Whedon's series was all of that and a lot more. Now, over a decade since <i>Firefly's</i> light went dark, there is a YouTube group looking to rekindle that fire, much in the same way as multiple <i>Star Trek</i> fans have created their own productions and published them for our enjoyment.<br/>
<br/>
That said, allow me to offer for your entertainment: <i>The Verse.</i> Enjoy.<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/B24h1SYIxEc?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe> New endorsement!tag:atheistnexus.org,2014-10-18:2182797:Topic:24925072014-10-18T14:28:07.439ZSteph S.http://atheistnexus.org/profile/StephS
<p>Hey, godless fans of fantasy and sci-fi! <br></br><br></br>I want to let you <span class="userContent">all to know that my edgy new YA fantasy was launched at the Brattleboro (Vermont) Literary Festival last week before a healthy crowd of book-lovers. This one is bound to create a stir--as long as enough people manage find out about <span class="text_exposed_show">it. How can Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum be moved to condemn the novel as vile and Satanic if they never find out it exists?…<br></br></span></span></p>
<p>Hey, godless fans of fantasy and sci-fi! <br/><br/>I want to let you <span class="userContent">all to know that my edgy new YA fantasy was launched at the Brattleboro (Vermont) Literary Festival last week before a healthy crowd of book-lovers. This one is bound to create a stir--as long as enough people manage find out about <span class="text_exposed_show">it. How can Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum be moved to condemn the novel as vile and Satanic if they never find out it exists?<br/> <br/> Jerry Coyne just gave it <a href="http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/readers-book/" target="_blank">a solid boost</a> last week over at his website, saying, "It might make a nice Christmas present for heathen teens." And following that mention, the Richard Dawkins Foundation website picked it up. This week, Russell Blackford, the well-known philosopher/writer/atheist in Australia, offered to write a review. Please help get the word out! <br/><br/>You'll enjoy POLLY for sure.</span></span> It's available online in trade paper and as an ebook, and, of course, through your local indie bookseller.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/q*PPwpWBvhZIT3cEn9QiC9rhaW0-jjdW4pXBUv2S9VOZlUIhlrOW7Tb5D4wxq-hrWrE52rvn70X9Iwd5WCj*iEF6InwuPzh7/Finalfullcovercopy.jpg"><img class="align-full" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/q*PPwpWBvhZIT3cEn9QiC9rhaW0-jjdW4pXBUv2S9VOZlUIhlrOW7Tb5D4wxq-hrWrE52rvn70X9Iwd5WCj*iEF6InwuPzh7/Finalfullcovercopy.jpg?width=750" width="750"/></a></p> POLLY AND THE ONE AND ONLY WORLDtag:atheistnexus.org,2014-08-25:2182797:Topic:24649652014-08-25T12:15:41.550ZSteph S.http://atheistnexus.org/profile/StephS
<p>Readers and writers here at A|N who enjoy sci fi and fantasy--and the new, related genre, <a href="http://www.npr.org/2013/04/20/176713022/so-hot-right-now-has-climate-change-created-a-new-literary-genre" target="_blank">cli fi</a>--will enjoy my edgy YA, due for release in October. <br></br> <br></br> For some time I was an active A|N member and a regular contributor to several groups--until, at a certain point (in May 2010, in fact), I decided that the time I was spending online was keeping me…</p>
<p>Readers and writers here at A|N who enjoy sci fi and fantasy--and the new, related genre, <a href="http://www.npr.org/2013/04/20/176713022/so-hot-right-now-has-climate-change-created-a-new-literary-genre" target="_blank">cli fi</a>--will enjoy my edgy YA, due for release in October. <br/> <br/> For some time I was an active A|N member and a regular contributor to several groups--until, at a certain point (in May 2010, in fact), I decided that the time I was spending online was keeping me from the work I needed to do. <br/> <br/> I needed to finish drafting my sixth novel. And then work on revisions. Now, after more than five years and 30 drafts, the novel is in print (advance copies are out to all the major reviewers) and will launch officially at the Brattleboro Literary Festival in Vermont on Oct. 4. The book is already getting some attention, and it stands to be seen as controversial in some communities because the villains in the world of the novel are cruel and oppressive fundamentalists. We'll see.<br/> <br/> For a peek, the curious may visit the book at Amazon (as long as you're not averse to giving Amazon the traffic) and use the "look inside" function.<br/> <br/> <a target="_self" href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/R40WBJXeJJp85i9IqDDvWbPyDvHgVz9o2K4sL3Xthjm3ywV4Y98Zgx9X6CmtQv-dQt7-gM1fN-zRh5Qjqeim*TCqjOqWuqqX/Finalfullcover.jpg"><img class="align-full" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/R40WBJXeJJp85i9IqDDvWbPyDvHgVz9o2K4sL3Xthjm3ywV4Y98Zgx9X6CmtQv-dQt7-gM1fN-zRh5Qjqeim*TCqjOqWuqqX/Finalfullcover.jpg?width=750" width="750"/></a><a target="_self" href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/Ha*i6Zw5Rmr-DCFHmOY6flX2dBo8ZxTSQ2z0GGYMykDbh1d5c4Xd-vpI15BlvGqtv4y0cwFccDe3oMQVdFYHFW8MkLZeDHug/FinalOnesheetcopy.jpg"><img class="align-full" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/Ha*i6Zw5Rmr-DCFHmOY6flX2dBo8ZxTSQ2z0GGYMykDbh1d5c4Xd-vpI15BlvGqtv4y0cwFccDe3oMQVdFYHFW8MkLZeDHug/FinalOnesheetcopy.jpg?width=750" width="750"/></a></p> Hugo award winners 2014tag:atheistnexus.org,2014-08-25:2182797:Topic:24649402014-08-25T03:19:05.758ZSteph S.http://atheistnexus.org/profile/StephS
<p>Here is an article about the Hugo award winner for best novel and the other awards are listed at the bottom.</p>
<p>Gravity? really?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/aug/18/ann-leckie-debut-novel-hugo-science-fiction-award" target="_blank">http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/aug/18/ann-leckie-debut-novel-hugo-science-fiction-award</a></p>
<p>Here is an article about the Hugo award winner for best novel and the other awards are listed at the bottom.</p>
<p>Gravity? really?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/aug/18/ann-leckie-debut-novel-hugo-science-fiction-award" target="_blank">http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/aug/18/ann-leckie-debut-novel-hugo-science-fiction-award</a></p> scifispace.comtag:atheistnexus.org,2013-11-16:2182797:Topic:23306512013-11-16T03:10:06.121ZSteph S.http://atheistnexus.org/profile/StephS
<p><a href="http://scifispace.com/">http://scifispace.com/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>A great website for sci-fi news</p>
<p></p>
<h3 class="widget-title">About Scifispace.com</h3>
<p>Are you a science fiction fan? Do you like to go to conventions, watch science fiction movies, read fantasy books, watch tv shows, play role-play games like Dungeons and Dragons or Vampire: The Masquerade, video, or collectible card games, collect science fiction toys and collectibles? Then you belong here!</p>
<p><a href="http://scifispace.com/">http://scifispace.com/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>A great website for sci-fi news</p>
<p></p>
<h3 class="widget-title">About Scifispace.com</h3>
<p>Are you a science fiction fan? Do you like to go to conventions, watch science fiction movies, read fantasy books, watch tv shows, play role-play games like Dungeons and Dragons or Vampire: The Masquerade, video, or collectible card games, collect science fiction toys and collectibles? Then you belong here!</p> Richard Matheson: 1926 - 2013tag:atheistnexus.org,2013-06-26:2182797:Topic:22594972013-06-26T15:18:37.826ZSteph S.http://atheistnexus.org/profile/StephS
<p>My first exposure to Richard Matheson was probably back in the early 60s, and that marvelous anthology series, Rod Serling’s <i>The Twilight Zone</i>. Matheson told amazing stories … of a man recovering from a nervous breakdown and what he thought he saw on the wing of the aircraft he was flying home in, of of two parents frantically searching for their young daughter, who is lost and calls out to them to find her, the search made more difficult by an intervening dimension or three, and two…</p>
<p>My first exposure to Richard Matheson was probably back in the early 60s, and that marvelous anthology series, Rod Serling’s <i>The Twilight Zone</i>. Matheson told amazing stories … of a man recovering from a nervous breakdown and what he thought he saw on the wing of the aircraft he was flying home in, of of two parents frantically searching for their young daughter, who is lost and calls out to them to find her, the search made more difficult by an intervening dimension or three, and two families who seek to escape their embattled home-world for some place new and unknown in a neighboring solar system, and a new planet, the third one of that system.<br/> <br/> Some years after that there came <b>Playboy</b> magazine and the terrific fiction frequently published within its pages. In particular, there was a short story called <i>Duel</i>, where an ordinary man driving from Point A to Point B finds himself pitted against a maniacal yet unseen truck driver. Not long after, that same story would find its way to a TV Movie of the Week, with Dennis Weaver cast brilliantly as the everyman struggling to evade and escape and finally confront that homicidal driver and his threatening vehicle. Both the story and the movie were saturated with the tension and frustration felt by the man who simply thought this was another business trip, only to be thrust into a life-and-death struggle which would test him past any limit the thought he had. Again, the by-line read: Richard Matheson.<br/> <br/> Then in 1980, we see a story told of a young, promising playwright, accepting the praises of his friends and colleagues for a work of his just performed. Someone watches from the shadows as this scene unfolds before walking up to the young man, taking his hand to gain his attention. He turns in response to discover that this is an old yet strikingly beautiful woman, who presses something into his palm and says to him, intensely, “Come back to me!” We will later learn that the woman is one Elise McKenna, that she and the playwright have indeed met before, even though they haven’t yet, and that the answer to the mystery posed by these events may be found <i>Somewhere In Time</i>, yet another opus of Messr. Matheson. And should I mention that if you’ve seen <i>The Last Man on Earth</i> starring Vincent Price or <i>The Omega Man</i> with Charlton Heston or <i>I Am Legend</i>, featuring Will Smith, those movies are all based on the same story, penned by Richard Matheson<br/> <br/> I can truly say that I grew up with the work of Richard Matheson. Even as an unsophisticated kid, I could appreciate the stories he told, the characters he created, and at least some of the subtleties and deft twists he would weave into his plots. Matheson’s handiwork was a large portion of what sunk the hook of <i>The Twilight Zone</i> into me and helped to foster my love of science-fiction and fantasy. His writing worked for me not because it was wrought of whiz-bang spaceships and laser-guns but because of believable characters, placed in extraordinary circumstances. His approach to the supernatural was to seek credible explanations for such occurrences, yet maintain within them a sense of unknown and with it a sense of tension if not danger to drive the action. From where I sit, he succeeded at this and wonderfully so.<br/> <br/> And this morning, I opened my daily copy of the <a href="http://www.cleveland.com/tv-blog/index.ssf/2013/06/richard_matheson_legendary_fantasy_writer_and_twilight_zone_contributor_dies_at_age_87.html">Cleveland Plain Dealer</a> to learn that Richard Matheson had died at the age of 87. I can say without hesitation that Matheson’s work enriched my life … and that my life is diminished with his passing.</p> Interrogation (Star Wars Fiction)tag:atheistnexus.org,2013-06-24:2182797:Topic:22576692013-06-24T10:30:35.488ZSteph S.http://atheistnexus.org/profile/StephS
<p>Gently, Keeto placed the pack into place. While it wasn't connected to the rest of the bomb, yet, the gel inside was unstable enough that it could still go off if mishandled.</p>
<p>From behind him, someone yelled, "BOOM!"</p>
<p>He screamed, almost dropping the pack. "Idiot!" he yelled, starting to rise for his chair. "You could have killed..." He stopped, mid-sentence, as a blaster was pressed to the base of his skull.</p>
<p>"Sit down, Keeto. Slowly." The voice was female, with the…</p>
<p>Gently, Keeto placed the pack into place. While it wasn't connected to the rest of the bomb, yet, the gel inside was unstable enough that it could still go off if mishandled.</p>
<p>From behind him, someone yelled, "BOOM!"</p>
<p>He screamed, almost dropping the pack. "Idiot!" he yelled, starting to rise for his chair. "You could have killed..." He stopped, mid-sentence, as a blaster was pressed to the base of his skull.</p>
<p>"Sit down, Keeto. Slowly." The voice was female, with the clipped tones of someone from Dromund Kaas. Hands up, he did as she said. "You make bombs for terrorists. Bombs they use against the good citizens of the Empire. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't just shoot you, right here, right now."</p>
<p>"Umm... Because murder is illegal?" He forced his voice to remain calm, but he was anything but.</p>
<p>"Keeto, Keeto," she chided. "Let me explain something. I'm with Imperial Intelligence. I could shoot you in the back of the head, and make it look like suicide. I could throw you down a flight of stairs, in front of a dozen witnesses, and make it look like an accident I could..."</p>
<p>Games annoyed Keeto. "Okay okay!" he snapped. "I get it! What do you want?"</p>
<p>The blaster barrel dug into his skin. "Tut, tut, my dear Rodian. Be nice."</p>
<p>He gulped. "Yes, ma'am." Keeto took a deep breath. "How may I help you?"</p>
<p>"Your employer, the Trandoshan, Klazen, is looking to blow up some Imperial targets. We need to know where they are, and where he is."</p>
<p>'Great,' he thought. 'Either I get killed by her, or killed by an ex-Hutt enforcer.' "If I tell you, what do I get out of it?"</p>
<p>She grabbed one of his antennae and yanked his head back, the blaster digging painfully into his neck. "You get to keep breathing, alien worm!" she growled.</p>
<p>"Okay!" he screamed. "I'll tell you! Just, please, promise you'll get to him before he gets to me!"</p>
<p>"Not a worry. He won't get to you. I give you my word."</p>
<p>"And how do I know you'll keep..."</p>
<p>"Because I haven't killed you, yet, you scum. Now, where is he?" She yanked harder on his antenna.</p>
<p>"Ow! All right! He's on Ord Mantell! I don't know what he's going after, but you'll find him there1"</p>
<p>"Where on Ord Mantell?"</p>
<p>"I don't know!" He could feel a trickle of blood where the barrel was digging in. "I swear! But how many seven-foot lizards can there be there?"</p>
<p>She let go of him, and he felt the pressure on his neck ease off. "Good point. Now, then." She threw something on the desk. "This is a transmitter. You will count slowly, to 100. I will be able to hear you, the whole time. If you stop counting, try to tamper with the transmitter, or even think of looking at me before I leave, I will come back, cut you into tiny little pieces, and make it look like a tragic shaving accident, Clear?"</p>
<p>He nodded, and started counting as he heard he leave.</p>
<p>Outside, Sinine, Chiss bounty hunter extraordinaire, joined up with her partner, Rolaz. "How'd it go?" he asked her.</p>
<p>As they walked down the street, she told him, "Well, we've got a destination, at least. I do love playing the part of an Imperial assassin, but, damn, that accent is hard on my jaw."</p>
<p>"And our little scumbag friend?"</p>
<p>"Oh, right. One second." She pressed a button on her armband. From the building she had just exited, an explosion took out the top floor, debris raining down on terrified passers-by.</p>
<p>With out breaking stride, Rolax said, "Bomb-making is a dangerous profession."</p>
<p>"I hate terrorists," Sinine grumbled. "Let's get off this rock. That bounty's not going to catch itself."</p> "The Gods of Mars" by Edgar Rice Burroughstag:atheistnexus.org,2013-06-14:2182797:Topic:22527842013-06-14T19:27:23.018ZSteph S.http://atheistnexus.org/profile/StephS
<p>Burroughs wrote the original Tarzan books. The God's of Mars is the second in a series. It is a beautiful metaphor for religious absurdity. Not to give too much away, but Mars is depicted as a planet with multiple races, each having its own religious beliefs. The religious beliefs of each race makes it "more special" than the other races. Turns out the religions were merely mechanisms for a few privileged ass holes to use and manipulate the masses... Imagine that!</p>
<p></p>
<p>The audio…</p>
<p>Burroughs wrote the original Tarzan books. The God's of Mars is the second in a series. It is a beautiful metaphor for religious absurdity. Not to give too much away, but Mars is depicted as a planet with multiple races, each having its own religious beliefs. The religious beliefs of each race makes it "more special" than the other races. Turns out the religions were merely mechanisms for a few privileged ass holes to use and manipulate the masses... Imagine that!</p>
<p></p>
<p>The audio version is available for free at:</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://archive.org/details/gods_of_mars_librivox">http://archive.org/details/gods_of_mars_librivox</a></p> SciFi Minds website - Free site to post your worktag:atheistnexus.org,2013-01-25:2182797:Topic:21518692013-01-25T23:27:49.760ZSteph S.http://atheistnexus.org/profile/StephS
<p><span class="font-size-3"><strong>I found a new website with Sci-Fi fan fiction.</strong></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><strong>Looks promising.</strong></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.scifiminds.net/">http://www.scifiminds.net/</a></strong></p>
<p><strong><font size="+1"><b>Welcome to SciFi Minds</b></font></strong></p>
<blockquote><p><i><br></br></i></p>
</blockquote>
<p></p>
<blockquote>SciFi Minds is a website focussing on science fiction. We are devoted to…</blockquote>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><strong>I found a new website with Sci-Fi fan fiction.</strong></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><strong>Looks promising.</strong></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.scifiminds.net/">http://www.scifiminds.net/</a></strong></p>
<p><strong><font size="+1"><b>Welcome to SciFi Minds</b></font></strong></p>
<blockquote><p><i><br/></i></p>
</blockquote>
<p></p>
<blockquote>SciFi Minds is a website focussing on science fiction. We are devoted to bringing you news, fan-fiction, episode guides, links, discussion, and much more.<p>Our original raison d'être was fan-fiction, and this still forms an integral part of our site. Fan-fiction is stories written by fans of a book, television show or film, that use the characters and universe created by the authors of the original work. <strong>Any registered user of SciFi Minds can post fan-fiction on the site, where it appears instantly. Original science fiction is welcome too.</strong></p>
<p><strong>As well as fan-fiction, we offer discussion boards, where you can talk to other fans and fiction writers. We also have an extensive news section, multiple links pages, and a webring.</strong></p>
<p><strong>The whole site is community driven. Register for a SciFi Minds account (it's free!)</strong> and you can post your own fiction, review other people's fiction (as any responsible reader would), take part in the bulletin boards, private message other SciFi Minds users, and much more. You will see people's usernames in various places on the site - one click on a username and you get details about the user, plus a whole host of contact details for if you want to speak to them.</p>
<p>From all of us who work behind the scenes here at SciFi Minds, we hope you will enjoy visiting and participating on this site. If you have trouble with any part of it, please don't hesitate to get in touch, and we'll do our best to help you out.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Regards,<br/>The SciFi Minds Team</p>